Adaptation of a front winch device on a vehicle to raise a load to the rear of a vehicle

ABSTRACT

A method of connecting a cable of a winch mounted on a front of a vehicle to an object to the rear of the vehicle includes removably placing a first support member including a first cable guide member extending from the first support member on a first surface of the vehicle so that the first support member contacts the surface of the vehicle. The method further include extending the cable from the winch rearward to be seated in the first cable guide member and to extend rearward therefrom. The method also include connecting the cable to the object to the rear of the vehicle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation patent application of U.S.Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 15/139,431, filed Apr. 27,2016, which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.No. 62/153,160, filed Apr. 27, 2015, the disclosures of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The following information is provided to assist the reader inunderstanding technologies disclosed below and the environment in whichsuch technologies may typically be used. The terms used herein are notintended to be limited to any particular narrow interpretation unlessclearly stated otherwise in this document. References set forth hereinmay facilitate understanding of the technologies or the backgroundthereof. The disclosure of all references cited herein are incorporatedby reference.

A winch is a mechanical device used to pull in, let out, or otherwiseadjust the tension of a rope or wire cable. A winch may, for example,include a drum, spool or barrel a about which the rope or wire cable iswindable. The winch may further include manually operated crank or apowered device in operative connection with the drum to control windingof the rope or wire cable therearound.

In a typical winch, an electric motor may provide power to a reductiongear mechanism, which turns the winch drum and winds a wire rope. Abrake automatically engages the winch drum when the winch motor isstopped and there is load on the wire rope. A clutch allows the winchdrum to be disengaged from the drive train to enable the drum to rotatefreely. Electrical controls, which may include a remote control, areprovided to allows a user to operate the winch

Winches may, for example, be mounted to the front or rear of vehicles.Very often, winches are mounted to the front of vehicles to, forexample, to pull a vehicle out of a stuck position or over roughterrain. A winch may also be used to move or apply force to objects.Trucks, All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), Utility Task Vehicles (UTVs) andsimilar vehicles are often provided with a front mounted winch (that is,a winch mounted to the front of a vehicle).

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a method of connecting a cable of a winch mounted on afront of a vehicle to an object to the rear of the vehicle includesremovably placing a first support member including a first cable guidemember extending from the first support member on a first surface of thevehicle so that the first support member contacts the surface of thevehicle. The method further include extending the cable from the winchrearward to be seated in the first cable guide member and to extendrearward therefrom. The method also include connecting the cable to theobject to the rear of the vehicle.

The method may further include removably placing a second support membercomprising a second cable guide member extending from the second supportmember on a second surface of the vehicle to the rear of the firstsupport member; and extending the cable from the first cable guidemember rearward to be seated in the second cable guide member and toextend rearward therefrom before connecting the cable to the object tothe rear of the vehicle.

In a number of embodiments, the cable does not contact the vehiclebetween the winch and the first cable guide member when the cable isdrawn taut thereover and the cable does not contact the vehicle betweenthe first cable guide member and the second cable guide member when thecable is draw taut over the first cable guide member and the secondcable guide member.

In a number of embodiments, the vehicle includes a rearward cargocompartment and the method further includes activating the winch afterconnecting the cable to the object to the rear of the vehicle to liftthe object to the rear of the vehicle into the cargo compartment.

The first cable guide member may, for example, include a first pulleywheel and the second cable guide member may, for example, include asecond pulley wheel, wherein the first pulley wheel and the secondpulley wheel rotate upon activating the winch.

In a number of embodiments, the first support member and the secondsupport member are movably connected. The first support member may, forexample, be connected to the second support member such that the firstsupport member is rotatable relative to the second support member. In anumber of embodiments, the vehicle is a utility task vehicle and thefirst surface and the second surface of the utility task vehicle areportions of the roof thereof.

In a number of embodiments, a lower surface of the first support memberrests freely on the first surface when the first support member is inoperative connection with the first surface and the first cable guidemember extends from an upper surface of the first support member. Alower surface of the second support member may also rest freely on thesecond surface when the second support member is in operative connectionwith the first surface and the second cable guide member extends from anupper surface of the second support member. As used herein, the phrase“rests freely on” indicates that the support member is notinterconnected with the surface of the vehicle via, for example, anyconnector during use thereof which must be removed to remove the supportmember from contact with the surface. The support member simply rests onthe surface.

In another aspect, a system for connecting a cable of a winch mounted ona front of a vehicle to an object to the rear of the vehicle, includes afirst support member including a first cable guide member extending fromthe first support member. The first support member is adapted to beremovably placed on a surface of the vehicle so that the first supportmember contacts the surface of the vehicle. The system may furtherinclude a second support member including a second cable guide extendingfrom the second support member. The second support member is adapted tobe removably placed on a surface of the vehicle to the rear of the firstsupport member so that the first support member contacts the surface ofthe vehicle.

In a number of embodiments, the first cable guide member is adapted sothat, after placement of the first support member on the first surfaceof the vehicle, the cable does not contact the vehicle between the winchand the first cable guide member when the cable is draw taut over thefirst cable guide member. The second cable guide member may be adaptedso that, after placement of the second support member on the secondsurface of the vehicle, the cable does not contact the vehicle betweenthe first cable guide member and the second cable guide member when thecable is draw taut over the first cable guide member and the secondcable guide member.

In a number of embodiments, the first cable guide member includes afirst pulley wheel and the second cable guide member comprises a secondpulley wheel. The first support member may, for example, be connected tothe second support member so that the second support member can berotated relative to the first support member.

In a number of embodiments, the lower surface of the first supportmember is adapted to rest freely on the first surface when the firstsupport member is in operative connection with the first surface, andthe first cable guide member extends from an upper surface of the firstsupport member. In a number of embodiments, a lower surface of thesecond support member is adapted to rest freely on the second surfacewhen the second support member is in operative connection with the firstsurface, and the second cable guide member extends from an upper surfaceof the second support member.

The present devices, systems, and methods, along with the attributes andattendant advantages thereof, will best be appreciated and understood inview of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates side view of a UTV or side-by-side including anembodiment of a system hereof to adapt or convert a front-mounted winchto operate upon an object to the rear of the vehicle.

FIG. 2A illustrates a rear perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 1Awith the cargo box lifted and the system hereof in place.

FIG. 2B illustrates a perspective view of the roof of the vehicle ofFIG. 1A with the system hereof in place.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the system of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of a system hereof in place upon atruck.

FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged side view of an assembly or component ofthe system of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments, asgenerally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may bearranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations inaddition to the described representative embodiments. Thus, thefollowing more detailed description of the representative embodiments,as illustrated in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of theembodiments, as claimed, but is merely illustrative of representativeembodiments.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” (or the like) means that a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the embodiment is includedin at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in oneembodiment” or “in an embodiment” or the like in various placesthroughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to thesame embodiment.

Furthermore, described features, structures, or characteristics may becombined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In thefollowing description, numerous specific details are provided to give athorough understanding of embodiments. One skilled in the relevant artwill recognize, however, that the various embodiments can be practicedwithout one or more of the specific details, or with other methods,components, materials, et cetera. In other instances, well knownstructures, materials, or operations are not shown or described indetail to avoid obfuscation.

As used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an”,and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictatesotherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “cable guide member” includesa plurality of such cable guide members and equivalents thereof known tothose skilled in the art, and so forth, and reference to “the cableguide member” is a reference to one or more such cable guide members andequivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth.Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as ashorthand method of referring individually to each separate valuefalling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, and eachseparate value, as well as intermediate ranges, are incorporated intothe specification as if individually recited herein. All methodsdescribed herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwiseindicated herein or otherwise clearly contraindicated by the text.

FIG. 1 illustrates side, schematic view of a UTV or side-by-side vehicle10 including an embodiment of a system 100 in operative connectiontherewith. System 100 adapts or converts a front-mounted winch 200 ofvehicle 10 to operate upon an object to the rear of the vehicle. Aside-by-side is, for example, a small, two-person or six-person,four-wheel drive, off-road vehicle, also called a UTV or ROV(Recreational Off highway Vehicle). Side-by-sides such as vehicle 10have a side-by-side seating arrangement. Vehicle 10 includes a bed orcargo box 20 at the rear of vehicle 10. As illustrated in broken linesin FIG. 1, cargo box 20 may be lifted or inclined in the manner of adump trailer.

In a number of embodiments, devices, systems and methods hereof operateto convert or adapt a front mounted winch such as winch 200 to operateon an object or objects to the rear of a vehicle upon which the winch ismounted. As illustrated, for example, in FIG. 1 a connective line in,for example, the form of a rope, wire cable or steel cable 210 (as knownin the winch arts) from winch 200 is directed over vehicle 10 via asystem 300. System 300 may, for example, operate to prevent contact orpinch points between cable 210 and the surface of vehicle 10.

In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 3, system 300 includesan assembly including a first support member 310 a and a second supportmember 320 which are movably (for example, rotatably connected) via, forexample, a hinge 314. This conformation allows system 300 to conform tothe roof contour or shape of vehicle 10. A first or lower surface offirst support member 310 a contacts the roof of vehicle 10. Contactmember may be provided on the ends of support member hereof to, forexample, contact an end of a roof or other vehicle component, but arenot required. First support member 310 a includes or has connectedthereto a first line/cable guide member 320 a extending from an upper orsecond surface (opposite the first surface thereof) of support member310 a which contacts cable 210 and guides cable 210. First guide member320 a in a number of embodiments includes a rotatable wheel such as apulley wheel which rotates about axis 322 a. As known in the pulleyarts, a pulley wheels includes a channeled or grooved surface (that is,a curved channel between two flanges) to seat/guide cable 210. Providinga rotating element to contact cable 210 in first guide member 320 a(such as a pulley wheel) assists in minimizing friction and facilitatedwinding and unwinding of cable 210 around drum 220 of winch 200 and mayalso assist in limiting shear forces between the support member 310 aand the surface of vehicle roof 30.

Similar to first support member 310 a, second support member 310 b ofthe assembly includes a first or lower surface which contacts the roofof vehicle 10. Second support member 310 b includes or has connectedthereto a second line/cable guide member 320 b extending from an upperor second surface (opposite the first surface thereof) of second supportmember 310 b, which may be identical to first guide member 320 b. Likefirst guide member 320 a, second guide member 320 a contacts cable 210and guides cable 210. In a number of embodiments, second guide member320 b includes a rotatable wheel such as a pulley wheel which rotatesabout an axis 322 b.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 2B, in use of system 300 in connection withan object to the rear of vehicle 10, one first places system 300 on roof30 of vehicle 10. Cable 210 is then released, unwound from drum 220 ofwinch 200 and moved rearward relative to the orientation of vehicle 10over vehicle 10 so that cable 210 is seated in first guide member 320 aand second guide member 320 b. Cable 210 is drawn further rearward overcargo box 20 and past the rear tailgate of vehicle 10. Cable guidemembers 320 a and 320 b are positioned so that cable 210 does notcontact vehicle 10 (other than possibly on the bed of cargo box 30 ortailgate, where slight cosmetic damage, denting or scratching may not bea concern) when cable 210 is drawn taut. In any case, there ispreferably no contact of cable 210 with vehicle 10 between the farthestrearward guide member and winch 200. At this point in time, cable 210 isconnected to an object to which force is to be applied. Cable 210 can,for example, be connected to the object via a connector 212 asillustrated in FIG. 2A. Winch 200 may then be activated to apply forceto the object to move it or to lift it into cargo box 20. Objects ofvarying weight (for example, 0 to 400 pounds, 0 to 1000 pounds orgreater) can readily be lifted into cargo box 20. The surface areas ofsupport members 310 a and 310 b may, for example, be adjusted (forexample, increased) to support more force thereon without damage tovehicle 210. Cargo box 20 can be tilted to inclined when lifting anobject into cargo box 20. After the object is which cargo box 20, cargobox 20 may then be placed into its non-inclined, transport position. Aramp or ramps can optionally be used when drawing the object into cargobox 20 or another bed.

Many hunters use UTVs such as vehicle 10 for transportation whilehunting. Rather than dragging large game such as a deer, cable 210 canbe attached to the deer via connector 212 (for example, by and the neckof the deer or other wild game) and the dear can be drawn into or liftedinto cargo box 20 upon activation of winch 200. Use of winch 200 to liftheavy object into a vehicle may, for example, help in preventinginjuries to hunters.

As described above, system 300 prevents cable 210 from contactingvehicle 10 when cable 210 is drawn taut during use to apply force to anobject. Support members 310 a and 310 b provide support for cable guidemembers 320 a and 320 b and distribute force over a sufficient area toprevent damage to the surface of vehicle 10 (or another vehicle inconnection with which the systems hereof are used).

The system hereof can be adapted or modified for use with virtually anyvehicle including a front mounted winch. For example, FIG. 4 illustratesan embodiment of a system 300′ hereof for use in connection with avehicle/truck 410. In this embodiment, system 300′ includes a firstsupport member 310 a′ from which a first (cable) guide member 320 a′(for example, a pulley wheel as described above) extends. First supportmember 320 b′ is placed on hood 440 of vehicle 410. System 300′ furtherincludes a second support member 310 b′ from which a second guide member320 b′ (for example, a pulley wheel) extends and a third support member310 c′ from which a third guide member 320 c′ (for example, a pulleywheel) extends. In the illustrated embodiment second support member 310b′ and third support member 310 c are connected via an intermediatemember 312′ and hinging connectors 314′ and 316′ so that the assemblythereof conforms to the contour of roof 430 of vehicle 410. Asillustrated in FIG. 4, cable 210′ of a front-mounted winch 200 is drawnrearward to pass over/through guide members 320 a′, 320 b′ and 320 c′,and then to pass over bed 420 and the rear tailgate 422 of vehicle 410so that cable 210′ does not contact areas of vehicle 410 that aredesirable to be protected from damage. In many trucks, rear tailgate 422can be readily removed or released to swing to a wide angle (asillustrated in FIG. 4) to further facility use of system 300′ hereof.

FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged view of an embodiment of first supportmember 310 a′. In the illustrated embodiments, first support member 310a′ includes a first or upper member 312 a′ which may be formed from ahigh-strength material such as a metal. First guide member 320 a′ isattached to and supported by upper member 312 a′. A second orintermediate member 314 a′ is attached to a lower surface of firstmember 312 a. Second member 314 a may, for example, be made from aresilient material (for example, a polymer foam) to assist inconformation of first support member 310 a to hood 440 of vehicle 410. Athird or lower member 316 a′ is attached to the bottom surface of secondmember 314 a′. Third member 316 a may, for example, be formed from aflexible material which may assist in preventing damage to hood 440and/or forming a stable (non-slipping) connection between first supportmember 310 a and hood 440.

When not in use, the components, assembly and/or assemblies of thesystems hereof can simply be removed from their resting positions on thevehicle and stored for later use. In a number of embodiments, thesupport member or members of the systems hereof simply rest upon asurface or surfaces of the vehicles. As no cooperating connectors arerequired in a number of the embodiment described herein, no tools arerequired to place the systems hereof in operative connection with thevehicle or to remove the system from operative connection with thevehicle. Once again, the one or more support members of the system maysimply rest upon the surface of the vehicle. A portion of the a systemhereof may, for example, be designed to cooperate with a portion of avehicle in an engaging (for example, in a hooking or interconnectingfashion). No structural change is required of the vehicle. A supportmember of a system hereof may include one or more cable guide members asdescribed herein. Support members hereof may be rigid or exhibit someflexibility. Moreover, the systems hereof are easily stowed in a vehiclefor use at any time.

In general, force applied to the cable guide member(s) on a supportmember while applying force to an object to the rear of the vehicle viathe winch cable assists in holding the support member in position. Thesupport member may have sufficient surface area (as readily determinedfor its position on the vehicle and the operating weight/force range ofthe system using well-known engineering principles) to distribute theforce on the support member in a manner to prevent damage (for example,scratching or denting) to the vehicle surface.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings set forth a numberof representative embodiments at the present time. Variousmodifications, additions and alternative designs will, of course, becomeapparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing teachingswithout departing from the scope hereof, which is indicated by thefollowing claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changesand variations that fall within the meaning and range of equivalency ofthe claims are to be embraced within their scope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of connecting a cable of a winch mountedon a front of a vehicle to an object to the rear of the vehicle,comprising: removably placing a first support member comprising a firstcable guide member extending from the first support member on a firstsurface of a roof of the vehicle so that the first support member restson the first surface of the vehicle without interconnection between thefirst support member and the roof of the vehicle via a connector;extending the cable from the winch rearward to be seated in the firstcable guide member and to extend rearward therefrom; and connecting thecable to the object to the rear of the vehicle.
 2. The method of claim 1further comprising removably placing a second support member comprisinga second cable guide member extending from the second support member ona second surface of the vehicle to the rear of the first support member;and extending the cable from the first cable guide member rearward to beseated in the second cable guide member and to extend rearward therefrombefore connecting the cable to the object to the rear of the vehicle. 3.The method of claim 2 wherein the cable does not contact the vehiclebetween the winch and the first cable guide member when the cable isdrawn taut thereover and the cable does not contact the vehicle betweenthe first cable guide member and the second cable guide member when thecable is draw taut over the first cable guide member and the secondcable guide member.
 4. The method of claim 2 wherein the vehiclecomprises a rearward cargo compartment and the method further includesactivating the winch after connecting the cable to the object to therear of the vehicle to lift the object to the rear of the vehicle intothe cargo compartment.
 5. The method of claim 2 wherein the first cableguide member comprises a first pulley wheel and the second cable guidemember comprises a second pulley wheel, the first pulley wheel and thesecond pulley wheel rotating upon activating the winch.
 6. The method ofclaim 5 wherein the first support member and the second support memberare movably connected.
 7. The method of claim 5 wherein the firstsupport member is connected to the second support member such that thefirst support member is rotatable relative to the second support member.8. The method of claim 6 wherein the vehicle is a utility task vehicleand the first surface and the second surface of the utility task vehicleare portions of the roof thereof.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein alower surface of the first support member conforms to a contour of thefirst surface of the roof.
 10. The method of claim 3 wherein a lowersurface of the second support member rests on the second surface withoutinterconnection between the second support member and the second surfaceof the vehicle via a connector when the second support member is inoperative connection with the first surface and the second cable guidemember extends from an upper surface of the second support member.
 11. Asystem for connecting a cable of a winch mounted on a front of a vehicleto an object to the rear of the vehicle, comprising: a first supportmember comprising a first cable guide member extending from the firstsupport member, the first support member being adapted to be removablyplaced on a first surface of a roof of the vehicle so that the firstsupport member rests on the first surface of the vehicle withoutinterconnection between the first support member and the roof of thevehicle via a connector when the cable is in operative connection withthe first cable guide member.
 12. The system of claim 11 furthercomprising a second support member comprising a second cable guideextending from the second support member, the second support memberbeing adapted to be removably placed on a second surface of the vehicleto the rear of the first support member so that the first support memberrests on the second surface of the vehicle without interconnectionbetween the second support member and the roof of the vehicle via aconnector when the cable is in operative connection with the secondcable guide member.
 13. The system of claim 12 wherein the first cableguide member is adapted so that, after placement of the first supportmember on the first surface of the vehicle, the cable does not contactthe vehicle between the winch and the first cable guide member when thecable is draw taut over the first cable guide member, and wherein thesecond cable guide member is adapted so that, after placement of thesecond support member on the second surface of the vehicle, the cabledoes not contact the vehicle between the first cable guide member andthe second cable guide member when the cable is draw taut over the firstcable guide member and the second cable guide member.
 14. The system ofclaim 12 wherein the first cable guide member comprises a first pulleywheel and the second cable guide member comprises a second pulley wheel.15. The system of claim 12 wherein the first support member is connectedto the second support member so that the second support member can berotated relative to the first support member.
 16. The system of claim 11wherein a lower surface of the first support member conforms to acontour of the first surface of the roof.
 17. The system of claim 11wherein a lower surface of the second support member conforms to acontour of the second surface.